News: 'Long Knife' soldier readies to wow crowd with national anthem

Sgt. Lindsay Robertson, a signal support systems specialist assigned to Battery, 5th Bn., 82nd F. A. Reg., 1st Cav. Div., auditions for the Horseheads, N.Y., Twin Tiers Idol Contest in 2008. A veteran of almost four years, Robertson will sing the National Anthem at the Dallas Cowboys football game, Nov. 18. (Courtesy photo)

DALLAS - Since Sgt. Lindsay Robertson was a little girl, singing has been her passion.

From the school choir to school shows to even competing in her town’s version of American Idol- Twin Tiers Idol Contest, Robertson has showcased her vocal capabilities.

Joining the Army soon after high school, the veteran of nearly four years has the opportunity that singers’ dream of, to sing the National Anthem at an NFL game.

To get selected to sing at the Dallas Cowboys game, Robertson had to go through an audition process. Her company commander selected her to audition at the brigade level where she won, and then she auditioned against nine to 10 people at the division level.

Upon viewing her audition tape, the 1st Cavalry Division commander and Command Sgt. Major selected her to go through one more approval chain — the Dallas Cowboys. They said yes and now, the Horseheads, N.Y., native is readying herself for the big day.

“I always get the butterflies before I sing but they go away as soon as I hit the first note,” Robertson stated. “The thing I’m nervous about most is I always start too high. So, I’ve been making sure I start out low enough so I can hit the high notes.”

When Robertson heard the Cowboys' average attendance this year was 80, 710 people, she boldly stated, “Bring it on!”

While preparing herself mentally and vocally for the upcoming performance, Robertson still gives 100 percent effort to her current operations as a training room noncommissioned officer-in-charge.

Having worked with Robertson for only a few months, Price is well aware of the talent residing in his unit.

“She sings at every national anthem [function] that we do,” stated Price, of Harker Heights, Texas. “She’s done a bunch of change of commands. She is pretty much the official singer if we have a function.”

“Her big dream is to make it in singing so I hope someone sees her and give her a phone call and maybe she can make it in the music industry. I’m basically hoping her dreams come true,” Price added.

To support her on her big day, Robertson’s family will fly down from N.Y. When the Cowboys heard of her family coming down, they gave them free tickets to the game.

Robertson's husband is also hoping to be able to see her perform in person. Recently tasked to deploy with the brigade to Afghanistan, Sgt. Darrell Robertson, is hoping everything works out so he can see his wife sing.

“I just hope I get to be here to see her sing,” Darrell stated, a self-propelled fueled artillery mechanic assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 27th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team.

“I think this is an amazing opportunity for her. I told her I was really proud of her,” Darrell said, a native of Weston, Ore. “It takes a lot to get up there in front of all those people,” Proudly, Darrell added, “I think she is going to knock it out of the ballpark.”

With the national anthem starting off the game; Robertson has cheering crowds, spectacular plays and of course the football players themselves to look forward to. When asked whom she would like to meet from the home team, she stated, “maybe [Dez] Bryant.”

In terms of her military career, Robertson said she would like to be part of the Army Soldier’s Show or sing with any other Army choir or band.

“Sgt. Robertson is a great talent and a great soldier,” stated Lt. Col. William Johnson, battalion commander for 5th Bn., 82nd F.A. Reg. “Her combat experience gives her singing the national anthem passion and sincerity.”

It seems Robertson already has what it takes to not only wow her peers, subordinates and supervisors, but maybe the nation too.